Creeping structure for use in creeping toy

ABSTRACT

A creeping structure for use in creeping toy includes two feet, two legs, and a driving device. The two feet each includes a top surface, and a convex bottom sheet. The two legs each is rotatably connected to the top surface of a corresponding foot, the two legs are rotatably connected with each other. The driving device is installed on the joint of the legs, and is configured for driving one of the legs to rotate with respect to the other to move the leg towards or away from the other.

BACKGROUND

1. Technical Field

The present disclosure relates to a creeping structure for use in creeping toys.

2. Description of Related Art

Some toys use batteries as a power source and other toys use the potential energy stored in coiled springs for power. The toys that use potential energy for power are creeping toys that imitate the movement of a caterpillar. However, such coiled spring-toys are limited in their movement in that the potential energy only provides a short service time and also the speed of the toys may not be adjustable. Therefore, what is desired is a creeping structure that can overcome the above-described problems.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an assembled, isometric view of a creeping structure, according to an exemplary embodiment.

FIG. 2 is an exploded, isometric view of the creeping structure of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along line III-III of FIG. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Referring to FIGS. 1-3, a creeping structure 100 for use in a toy, e.g., a creeping toy, is illustrated. The creeping structure 100 includes a first foot 110, a second foot 120, a first leg 132, a second leg 134, and a driving device 136. The first leg 132 is rotatably connected to the first foot 110. The second leg 134 is rotatably connected to the second foot 120. The first leg 132 and the second leg 134 are rotatably engaged with each other via the driving device 136.

The first foot 110 including a housing 112 and a first brake 116.

The housing 112 is a hollow cylinder in shape, and includes, in this embodiment, a circular top surface 112 a, a cylindrical side-wall 112 b, a convex bottom sheet 112 c, and a first foot joint 112 d. The top surface 112 a is integrally formed with the side-wall 112 b. The bottom sheet 112 c is made of flexible material, such as, rubber or silica gel, and is capped on the bottom of the side-wall 112 b. The first foot joint 112 d includes two parallel plates 1120 extending perpendicularly upward from the top surface 112 a. The two plates 1120 are spaced apart from each other, and each defines a first pivot hole 112 e.

The first brake 116 includes a retractable pole 1162. In this embodiment, the top surface 112 a includes an inner surface 1122. The top surface 112 a also includes a projection 128 substantially protruding perpendicularly from the center of the inner surface 1122. The projection 128 defines a receiving portion 1282. The first brake 116 is received in the receiving portion 1282. The retractable pole 1162 is retractably connected to the bottom sheet 112 c to vary the air space between the bottom sheet 112 c and a creeping surface (not labeled) supporting the first and second feet 110, 120. In a first state, the retractable pole 1162 protrudes and pushes the bottom sheet 112 c to flatten, substantially fully abutting the creeping surface, thereby minimizing the space between the bottom sheet 112 c and the creeping surface. The retractable pole 1162 is then retracted. The bottom sheet 112 c returns to its normal convex shape. Because of the weight of the housing 112 and the first leg 132, the outer edge of the bottom sheet 112 c forms an airtight seal with the creeping surface and the bottom sheet 112 c acts like a suction cup and grasps the creeping surface. When the retractable pole 1162 of the first brake 116 extends towards to the bottom sheet 112 c, the bottom sheet 112 c flattens and the suction force vanishes.

The second foot 120 is similar with the structure of the first foot 110.

One end of the first leg 132 defines a second pivot hole 1322 aligned with the pair of the first pivot holes 112 e of the housing 112. The housing 112 of the first foot 110 is rotatably connected to first leg 132 by inserting a rotatable shaft 135 through the first and second pivot holes 112 e, 1322. One end of the second leg 134 is rotatably connected to the second foot 120 using a similar structure.

The driving device 136 includes a first motor 1362 and a transmitting gear 1364. In this embodiment, the first motor 1362 is a rotary piezoelectric motor, but it is not limited to this embodiment. A rotor of the first motor 1362 includes a driving gear 1366 meshed with the transmitting gear 1364. The first motor 1362 is capable of changing the spinning direction of the rotor according to the direction of the electric current. In this embodiment, the first motor 1362 is installed in the end of the first leg 132 away from the first foot 110. The transmitting gear 1364 is installed on the end of the second leg 134 away from the second foot 120. The first leg 132 is rotatably connected to the second leg 134 by the driving gear 1366 of the first motor 1362 meshed to the transmitting gear 1364.

Alternatively, in other embodiments, the first motor 1362 can be installed in the second leg 134, and the transmitting gear 1364 can be installed on the first leg 132.

In this embodiment, the creeping structure 100 further includes a controlling unit 140, the controlling unit 140 is installed in the first leg 132. It should be noted that, the controlling unit 140 can be also installed in the second leg 134. The controlling unit 140 is configured for driving the driving device 136 and the first brake 116 synchronously, and changing the creeping speed of the first and second feet 110, 120.

In operation, firstly, the controlling unit 140 controls the retractable pole 1162 of the first brake 116 of the first foot 110 to extend, pushing the bottom sheet 112 c. At the same time, the controlling unit 140 controls the retractable pole 1162 of the first brake 116 of the second foot 120 to retract. As a result, the first foot 110 is free from the creeping surface and the second foot 120 grasps the creeping surface. Meanwhile, the controlling unit 140 controls the driving gear 1366 of the first motor 1362 to rotate counterclockwise to move the first foot 110 away from the second foot 120 along the creeping surface. As such, the creeping structure 100 performs a creep step. Then, the controlling unit 140 controls the retractable pole 1162 of the second deriving device 116 of the second foot 120 to extend toward to the bottom sheet 112 c. At the same time, the controlling unit 140 controls the retractable pole 1162 of the first brake 116 of the first foot 110 to retract. As a result, the second foot 120 is free from the creeping surface and the first foot 110 is grasped by the creeping surface. Meanwhile, the controlling unit 140 controls the driving gear 1366 of the first motor 1362 to rotate clockwise to make the second foot 120 creeping towards to the first foot 110 along the creeping surface. Repeating above steps, the creeping toy installed the creeping structure 100 will be able to realize creeping.

The controlling unit 140 can also control the driving device 136 to limit the included angle between the first and second legs 132, 134 is a range of about 65-150 degrees during creeping. When the included angle is less than 65 degrees or larger than 150 degrees, the controlling unit 140 switches the polarity of the electrical current of the first motor 1362 of the driving device 136 to change spinning direction.

It will be understood that the above particular embodiments and methods are shown and described by way of illustration only. The principles and the features of the present invention may be employed in various and numerous embodiments thereof without departing from the scope of the invention as claimed. The above-described embodiments illustrate the scope of the invention but do not restrict the scope of the invention. 

1. A creeping structure for use in a creeping toy, comprising: two feet each comprising a top surface, and a convex bottom sheet; two legs each rotatably connected to the top surface of a corresponding foot, the two legs being rotatably connected with each other; and a driving device installed on the joint of the legs, being configured for driving one of the leg to rotate with respect to the other and moving the leg towards or away from the other.
 2. The creeping structure as claimed in claim 1, wherein the foot further comprises a side-wall integrally formed with the top surface; the convex bottom sheet is capped on the bottom of the side-wall.
 3. The creeping structure as claimed in claim 1, wherein the driving device comprises a first motor and a transmitting gear; the first motor comprises a driving gear matched with the transmitting gear; and the first motor and the transmitting gear is installed on each leg so that the transmitting gear is engaged with the driving gear.
 4. The creeping structure as claimed in claim 3, wherein the first motor is a rotary piezoelectric motor.
 5. The creeping structure as claimed in claim 1, wherein each of the two feet further comprises a retractable pole, a first foot joint; each of the first foot joint comprises two parallel plates extending perpendicularly upward from the top surface; the two plates are spaced apart from each other and each defines a pair of first pivot holes; one end of the legs respectively defines a second pivot hole aligned with a corresponding pair of the first pivot hole; and the feet are rotatably connected to the legs by inserting a rotatable shaft through the first and second pivot holes.
 6. The creeping structure as claimed in claim 1, wherein the bottom sheet is made of a material selected from the group consisting of rubber and silica gel.
 7. A creeping structure for use in a toy, comprising: two feet each comprising a top surface, a convex bottom sheet and a first brake, the top surface comprising a projection protruding perpendicularly from the inner surface, the projection defining a receiving portion, the first brake received in the receiving portion, the first brake configured for changing the air space between the bottom sheet and a creeping surface supporting the two feet; two legs each rotatably connected to the top surface of a corresponding foot, the two legs being rotatably connected with each other; a driving device installed on the joint of the legs, being configured for driving one of the leg to rotate with respect to the other and to move the leg towards or away from the other; and a controlling unit configured for controlling the driving device and the first brake to act synchronously, and changing the creeping speed of the two feet.
 8. The creeping structure as claimed in claim 7, wherein the foot further comprises a side-wall integrally formed with the top surface; the convex bottom sheet is capped on the bottom of the side-wall.
 9. The creeping structure as claimed in claim 7, wherein the driving device comprises a first motor and a transmitting gear; the first motor comprises a driving gear matched with the transmitting gear; and the first motor and the transmitting gear is installed on each leg so that the transmitting gear is engaged with the driving gear.
 10. The creeping structure as claimed in claim 9, wherein the first motor is a rotary piezoelectric motor.
 11. The creeping structure as claimed in claim 7, wherein each of the two feet further comprises a retractable pole, and a first foot joint; each of the first foot joint comprises two parallel plates extending perpendicularly upward from the top surface; the two plates are spaced apart from each other; and each defines a pair of first pivot holes; one end of the legs respectively defines a second pivot hole aligned with a corresponding pair of the first pivot hole; and the feet are rotatably connected to the legs by inserting a rotatable shaft through the first and second pivot holes.
 12. The creeping structure as claimed in claim 7, wherein bottom sheet is made of a material selected from the group consisting of rubber and silica gel.
 13. The creeping structure as claimed in claim 7, wherein the controlling unit is installed in one of the legs. 